Get Used To It!
"Mom, why can't we watch (this cartoon)?" asked my six year old.
"Because it isn't appropriate," I responded.
"So, we can't watch it until you get used to it?" philosophized the first grader.
Huh. That's an interesting thought. My little girl has already observed that after some time most people get used to the stuff that once bothered them. Little brothers, shots, messy rooms...after a while these things don't bother her anymore. In part it is good to get used to being uncomfortable. In fact, I teach my children to expect discomfort in the world. We don't take medicine every time we get a headache and we don't seek out comfort as our first priority. We eat foods we don't like and we sit patiently and wait when we'd rather be moving around and playing.
However, we should never get used to sin. Sin should always bother us. But does it? The cartoon which teaches children to disobey authority or to take delight in the occult - do we get used to it? Should we get used to it? I love the Lord deeply, but you know, I get used to some of my sins. In fact, I love some people dearly who sin intentionally and regularly. Does that mean I should condone sin because I'm accustomed to it?
Society says, "YES!" We shouldn't judge. We shouldn't label sin. We should accept everyone for who they are and never stand against sin. We should twist the Bible so that we can be comfortable. Instead of opposing sin, we should embrace it for the sake of love. But the Bible teaches differently. Probably the best known chapter on love is found in 1 Corinthians 13. And verse 6 has a lot to say on the matter of sin. It reads, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." True love does not embrace sin, but rather truth.
I really love my kids. I really love my family. I really love people. However true love isn't about making someone comfortable with sin, but rather showing them the truth. This doesn't mean we shun sinners. On the contrary, we love them like Jesus loved them! We talk with them, walk with them, and speak kindly to them. Yet Jesus never said to sinners, "Keep doing what you're doing. You're fine just the way you are!" Instead he often said, "Go and sin no more."
Likewise we should never "get used to" sin. Our own sinful ways and the sinful ways of others should never sit well with us. Some TV programs bother me. I do not want my children to find evil entertaining. I do not want them to delight in sinful ways. So, I had to tell my little girl, "I'm sorry. But Mommy will never get used to (that cartoon). It teaches what is wrong and it will always bother me."
"Because it isn't appropriate," I responded.
"So, we can't watch it until you get used to it?" philosophized the first grader.
However, we should never get used to sin. Sin should always bother us. But does it? The cartoon which teaches children to disobey authority or to take delight in the occult - do we get used to it? Should we get used to it? I love the Lord deeply, but you know, I get used to some of my sins. In fact, I love some people dearly who sin intentionally and regularly. Does that mean I should condone sin because I'm accustomed to it?
Society says, "YES!" We shouldn't judge. We shouldn't label sin. We should accept everyone for who they are and never stand against sin. We should twist the Bible so that we can be comfortable. Instead of opposing sin, we should embrace it for the sake of love. But the Bible teaches differently. Probably the best known chapter on love is found in 1 Corinthians 13. And verse 6 has a lot to say on the matter of sin. It reads, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." True love does not embrace sin, but rather truth.
I really love my kids. I really love my family. I really love people. However true love isn't about making someone comfortable with sin, but rather showing them the truth. This doesn't mean we shun sinners. On the contrary, we love them like Jesus loved them! We talk with them, walk with them, and speak kindly to them. Yet Jesus never said to sinners, "Keep doing what you're doing. You're fine just the way you are!" Instead he often said, "Go and sin no more."
Likewise we should never "get used to" sin. Our own sinful ways and the sinful ways of others should never sit well with us. Some TV programs bother me. I do not want my children to find evil entertaining. I do not want them to delight in sinful ways. So, I had to tell my little girl, "I'm sorry. But Mommy will never get used to (that cartoon). It teaches what is wrong and it will always bother me."
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